This week’s guest is Dr. Jeffrey Barudin. Jeffrey is a dynamic and innovative percussion performer and pedagogue currently based in Philadelphia, PA. He has performed as a soloist and ensemble member around the world, including several performances at PASICs and PAS Days of Percussion. He has also participated in numerous world premiere performances and recordings. His playing has been praised as having "...the naturalness of conversation" with "joy that cascades from every note."

He has performed with a variety of acclaimed musical ensembles, including the Atlantic Brass Band, the Illinois Symphony, Toledo Symphony, Lansing Symphony, and Lancaster Festival Orchestra (OH). He has been featured as a concerto soloist with the Town & Country Symphony Orchestra (MO) and the Saint Louis Civic Orchestra, and recently performed the world premiere of a concerto for marimba and wind quintet by Dr. Zachary Cairns. He has shared the stage with artists ranging from the Beach Boys to soprano Christine Brewer. He currently is a section member of the Philadelphia Wind Symphony.

Dr. Barudin can be heard on several commercially available CD's, including the Grammy-winning “Songs of Innocence and Experience”, composed by William Bolcom and conducted by Maestro Leonard Slatkin. Other CD appearances include performances with the University of Michigan Symphony Band, the University of Michigan Percussion Ensemble, and the Bassoon Chamber Music Composition Competition. He has worked with several important composers, collaborating closely with Michael Daugherty for his timpani concerto “Raise the Roof” and Bright Sheng for his marimba concerto “Colors of Crimson”. He has also worked with noted composers David T. Little, Kristin Kuster, and David Biedenbender.

Dr. Barudin is the Director of Instrumental Music at Abington Friends School in Jenkintown, PA and an adjunct music instruction with Maryville University. He is also on the percussion faculty at Philadelphia’s Settlement Music School, one of the nation’s premiere community music organizations. Previous K-12 teaching positions include the Sanford School (Hockessin, DE), the Webster University Community Music School (Webster Groves, MO), Grand Center Arts Academy (St. Louis, MO), and the Fulton School at St. Albans (St. Albans, MO). He also served on the faculty at Lindenwood University, St. Charles Community College, Southwest Illinois College, and the New England Music Camp in Sidney, ME. Dr. Barudin currently performs with the Atlantic Brass Band - previous performance engagements include Winter Opera St. Louis, the Gateway Festival Orchestra, Chamber Project STL, and the Illinois Symphony. He received his DMA and MM degrees from the University of Michigan, and his BS in Music Education from Penn State University. His primary instructors were Dan Armstrong, Gifford Howarth, Michael Udow, and Joseph Gramley.

Dr. Barudin has articles published in Percussive Notes and Percussive Arts Society Educators Companion, and his compositions are published by C-Alan Publications, Heartland Publications, and Innovative Percussion. He is proud to be a Yamaha Performing Artist and to endorse Sabian cymbals and Innovative Percussion mallets and products.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Casey Cangelosi! Casey is commonly hosted world-wide by educational institutions, music festivals, and educational seminars. Casey has been a visiting guest artist in Italy, Germany, Costa Rica, Mexico, Argentina, Croatia, Sweden, Taiwan, and widely across the U.S. at events including the The Midwest Clinic and PASIC Showcase Concerts. Casey is a regularly commissioned composer called the "Paganini of Percussion" and "The voice of a new generation". Casey holds music degrees from Rice University, The Boston Conservatory, and Utah State University. Casey is endorsed by Majestic, Mapex, Innovative Percussion, Zildjian, Grover Pro Percussion, Remo, and Beiner Bags.

Happy Birthday to Mike Dawson! (Episode #442 and Episode #147) Michael is Chief Creative Officer for Drum Factory Direct, a top online distributor of drum parts and accessories. He hosts a weekly podcast, Drum Candy, where he interviews world-famous drummers on a range of topics. Dawson was managing editor for Modern Drummer Publications, where he authored dozens of features, columns, and product reviews and edited several top-selling instructional books. Dawson also produced and co-hosted the acclaimed weekly show, The Modern Drummer Podcast With Mike and Mike, along with renowned online educator/clinician Mike Johnston. Dawson holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from West Virginia University and a master’s degree in music from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is associate professor in music journalism at the UArts and percussion instructor at WVWC. Before relocating to Pittsburgh, Dawson was a regular substitute musician for the drumset chair in the hit Broadway musical The Lion King.

Happy Birthday to José Montaña! José Born in Madrid (Spain) 1984, he started his studies at the age of 14 in the school of music Maestro Gombau (Madrid)

At the age of 16 he made his first debut in a series of flamenco festivals called "Los Almaizares” playing with Jose de Luna. One of his deep foundations is the Porrina Cajon family, friends since he was a child. He had the opportunity to learn from them and from the best cajón player and percussionist Israel Suarez "El Piraña". Also, Lucky Losada, Ramon Porrina & Sabú Porrina were very inspirational to him as percussionists. As he continued to develop in the Flamenco world he took Afro-cuban lessons with Miguel "Anga" diaz, The multi-percusionist Pepe Espinosa, The singer and percussionist Pedro "pedrito" Martinez, Jose Luis Quintana o"Changuito", Tata Guines , Giovanni Hidalgo and a lot more. He studied in Cuba with Chucho Valdes’ percussion player, Yaroldi Abreu, and with Adonis Panter, former Quinto player of the group Yoruba Andabo now director of Osain del monte.

The biggest inspiration for his music is the multi-instrumentalist and bass player Alain Perez (Paco de Lucia ́s Group) who is also his teacher and of course the Latin Jazz master Jerry Gonzalez! In the way of the most purest flamenco he studied in Amor de Dios (Flamenco School from Madrid) taking the rhythm from the most interesting part of flamenco...."the dance", And Developing that Into the CAJÓN...Starting to perform with the rhythmically virtuosos flamenco dancers like Alfonso Losa,Nino de los reyes,Juan de juan, Antonio y Manuel Reyes,Antonio Canales and much more.

Drawn by the purest forms of flamenco he studied at the legendary flamenco center Amor De Dios. He absorbed the rhythms of the flamenco footwork and developed that on the CAJÓN. He began to perform with rhythmic virtuosos and flamenco dancers such as Alfonso Losa, Nino de los reyes, Juan de juan, Antonio y Manuel Reyes, Antonio Canales and many more. He is also fluent in African drumming, Bata, Djembe, Dum Dum, Brazilian percussion, Afro-Peruvian and Hindu music leaving him the open space for Fusion. He has been playing with all this amazing artist of Jazz, Flamenco, Cuban Music, Pop and World music such as: Alain Perez, Richard Bona, Jorge Pardo, Chano Dominguez ,Antonio Rey, Antonio Serrano, Javier Limon, Antonio Canales, Jerry Gonzalez, Montse Cortés, Javier Massó Caramelo, Tino di Geraldo, Juan José Suárez “Paquete”, Enrique Heredia “El negri”, Israel Fernandez, Rafael Amargo, Rojas & Rodriguez, Cristobal Reyes & Juana Amaya, Amador Rojas, Agustin Carbonell “El Bola” ̈, Lara Bello, Sandra Carrasco, Dan Ben lior, Paco Cruz, Nino de los Reyes, La Talegona, David Paniagua y Sonia Olla, Javier Colina, Diego Guerrero, Rycardo Moreno,Aleph (Libano), Yelsy Heredia, Pete Lockett, Yuri Juarez, Carlos Sarduy, Marinah (Ojos de Brujo).

Now as a De Gregorio Cajón Artist is performing at all the best international Percussion Festivals like: Namm (California USA), Fiesta Del Tambor (Habana Cuba), XIV Seminari Cajón (Barcelona Spain), D52Ankara Drumfest (Turkey), Drumscene Magazine, London Drum Show (Great Britain), Singapore Drum Festival Ultimate weekend (Singapore), New York Masterclass at CCC Center for the performing arts, Australia Ultimate Drummers Weekend #AUDW (Australia), Perfoming with Eric Moore, Cris Coleman, Dave Elicht, John Riley, Greg Bisonette and many more!

Endorsed By Cajón DG, Istanbul Mehmet Cymbals & G-Drums He is currently Doing Workshops all around Spain.Europe and EEUU Since 2016 He has being doing Workshops around the globe Italy (Borgolavezzaro Milan, Torino Novara, Verbania, Rome), Germany (Köln Düsseldorf), Turkey (Ankara Istambul), Singapore, London, New York, Australia (Sidney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane), Spain (Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Bilbao, Murcia), Encajonarte ,Primitivo, Escola, D’Akokan, France (Paris Studio bleu), South Korea (Seoul) At Cajon Center, Canadá At Studio Zuruba with PercuSoul (Quebec, Toronto) Gran Canaria Flamenco Estudio! “Cajón Afro” Masterclass Madrid Amazónico With José Montaña & Magerït Café Berlín 101BomBo! Masterclass NYC 2020, Masterclass Boston 2020.

Happy Birthday to Joel Tetzlaff! Joel has twenty-one years of marketing experience with Yamaha, the largest instrument manufacturer in the world. Providing depth of knowledge with a wide diversity of people, situations and business factors with an extensive background in creative development, customer engagement, promotion process, sales and dealer support.

Happy Birthday to Rodney Barreto! Born in 1984, Rodney comes from a family with musical tradition. His second last name, the very well known Barreto, is synonymous with excellence in drumming in Cuba, as Rodney’s uncle is Julio César Barreto. Although Julio César was an enormous inspiration for his nephew, he was not the only family member that contributed to Rodney’s musical story. Rodney’s great uncle was a composer for Cuban singers, including the famous Benny Moré. From the early age of three, Rodney was totally involved in musical activities, and captivated as he watched his uncle practice, and took in the live shows during street carnivals.

At 9 years old, Rodney entered the elementary music school in Havana to study percussion. Although percussion students are not supposed to start with the drumset until the age of 18, Rodney had his first drum lesson at 11, and 5 years later, at the age of 16, he was already touring internationally as a professional drummer.

At the age of 17, Rodney joined one of the biggest and most prestigious Cuban salsa bands, Isaac Delgado’s Orchestra, with whom he toured with for five years.

It doesn’t matter if it is salsa, jazz, rock, hip-hop… Rodney Barreto is the owner of a very personal style and groove, that has made him one of the youngest and brightest drummers in Cuba.

Happy Birthday to Jordan Perlson! The career of drummer, percussionist, producer and educator Jordan has spanned about as wide a stylistic reach as one can imagine. Be it with jazz legends Seamus Blake, Gary Burton, David Liebman, or folk heroes Alison Brown and Missy Raines, or reggae giants Matisyahu and Trevor Hall, cutting edge music innovators like Becca Stevens, Snarky Puppy, Banda Magda and Jeff Coffin, progressive music with Adrian Belew, Echolyn or Kaki King, or fusion megastar Hiromi, Jordan has become a known force in these many circles. Credits on 100+ recordings, including national and international ad campaigns for Powerade, Netflix, The NY Rangers, Buick and more, Jordan is at home in the studio as he is on stage. Visit his Remote Drum Recording page to learn more about hiring him for your next project. Having taught at prestigious institutions such as Berklee College of Music, New York University and masterclasses all over the world, Jordan is a passionate educator. Visit his Distance Drum Coaching page to learn more about studying with him. An author of 2 books for Mel Bay publishing, Jordan’s books have been translated into several languages and are used the world round by teachers and students of many levels.

Gig Alerts

Jeffrey has some new gigs up on his website in several genres (symphony, drumset, industry, schools and more!)

The Olympia Funk Festival is almost sold out. Hurry up and get tickets if you’re interested.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise is happening Feb 3rd-10th, and heading from Florida to Mexico and back. Friends of the show, Munyungo Jackson and Richie “Gajate” Garcia will both be in attendance on the ship.

The Jam Cruise is happening Feb 7th-12th, and heading from Miami to the Bahamas and back.

Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind, and Fire are heading out on a 26-date tour this summer.

Harry Styles is heading out on a 50 gig, 7 city tour this year.

Educational Spotlight

The deadline to submit someone to the Percussive Arts Society’s Hall of Fame is January 31st.

Damon is going to nominate friend of the show, Giovanni Hidalgo.

The Alabama Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society is having their day of percussion on Sat Feb 7th at Samford University in Birmingham, AL.

Iconic Recording

Jeffrey chose, “It's All Nothing Until It's Everything” by KNOWER with Louis Cole on drums from the Live Sesh.

Music News

The Grammys are on Sunday Feb 1st. Friends of the show Nate Morton and Luis Conte will be playing with the house band for the Grammy Pre Show, streamed on Paramount +. Shout-out to friend of the show, Weedie Braimah (Episode #46, Episode #140, and Episode #464) who is nominated.

As Super Bowl LX arrives, here’s a full list of performers slated to appear this year when New England and Seattle battle it out in the Bay Area. -Article

High costs, hard choices, and a growing class divide: The affordability crisis is here for (indie) musicians trying to make a living on the road -Article

Jeffrey Barudin Interview

The song leading into the interview is, “Concert(in)o for Marimba and Wind Quintet” (2016) by Zachary Cairns from the III. In Sylvan Effusions album. It was performed by, Jeffrey Barudin on marimba with The Equinox Chamber Players.

Damon starts by asking about the site Jeff runs for job postings (see gig alerts section). Jeff mentions being inspired by the similar site that John Tafoya runs.

Damon mentions some job postings through the musicians union (and their magazine/newspaper called International Muisician).

There’s also the side Musical Chairs (dot info). Damon mentions JammCard and Jeff mentions Playbill. Damon also mentions Giggs.Live.

Shout-out to Bella Scotti and their website.

Jeff talks about searching the internet and “cold calling” universities.

Jeff used to teach at Lindenwood University.

Jeff talks about “doing the work” and using technology and resources to your advantage.

Jeff talks about his path in music and how he ended up in music education.

Jeff got his undergrad degree from (We Are) Penn State. His masters and doctorate were from the University of Michigan.

Damon and Jeff talk about your passion vs. your gift.

Jeff talks about “fall back plans”

Damon talks about how drums are scientifically smarter than other instruments.

Jeff grew up in Ewing, NJ near Trenton. He mentions playing piano with his grandparents.